Nociceptin ORL-1 Modulators

Researchers at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at The University of Queensland (UQ) have developed peptidic agonists and antagonists of the nociceptin opioid-receptor like 1
(ORL-1) receptor. Human nociceptin is a secreted peptide hormone that is important in sensory perception and pain. The nociceptin ORL-1 receptor is located on sensory nerves throughout the body. New peptidic agonists and antagonists with nano- to pico-molar activity at the ORL-1 receptor have been created and tested in vivo in a mouse model of nociception and pain.